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Pearls of Jaina Wisdom
elephant, 2. a white bull, 3. Śrī, the goddess of wealth, 4. a lion, 5. the full moon, 6. two fragrant garlands, 7. the rising sun, 8. a golden pitcher filled with water, 9. a large and beautiful flag, 10. a lotus lake, 11. the milk ocean, 12. a celestial chariot, 13. a heap of jewels, and 14. a smokeless fire.
Jainas recall and re-enact these dreams even today when they celebrate the five auspicious events ( Kalyāṇaks) of Mahāvīra's life conception (Garbha), birth ( Janma), renunciation ( Dīkṣā), enlightenment ( Kevalajñāna) and final release (Nirvāṇa ). The dreams are also depicted in the sculptures and paintings which adorn the interiors of Jaina temples. Queen Triśală informed King Siddhartha of the above dreams and wanted to know their import. King Siddhartha called the fortune-teller, who said that the queen would give birth to a great son who was destined to become either a universal monarch ( Cakravarti ) or a great saint, a Tīrthankara. Childhood
The birth of Vardhamana was celebrated with all pomp and geity throughout the kingdom and a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the land. Following the ablution and various auspicious rites, the child was named Vardhamana, he who brings prosperity, apparently because his parent's wealth had increased markedly during the pregnancy of his mother. The name Vardhamana was of course only the first of many to be given to him: Vīra (hero), Mahāvīra ( great hero ), Sanmati ( of excellent wisdom ), Kasyapa (his lineage name) and Śramaṇa Bhagavānā Mahāvīra ( the venerable ascetic Mahāvīra ). Vardhamana had an elder brother named Nandivardhana and a sister named Sudarsanā.
Jaina scriptures do not depict much details about the childhood and youth of Vardhamana. As a young boy Vardhamana was handsome, brave and fearless. He was liked by one and all. Queen Trisala was very gentle, benevolent and noble-minded. In AcārāngaSūtra it is described that the parents of Mahāvīra were followers of Pārśva, the twenty-third Tīrthankara, whose historicity is now
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